Brand new to metallic silhouette, I shot my first small bore match last month and am looking to buy a high power rifle. I'm looking at a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55. A few of the fellows in the club I belong to shoot the 6.5x47. What if any, are the advantages of the 6.55x55 over the 6.5x47 or vice versa, e.g., accuracy, ability to knock down rams, availability of components, etc. I'm assuming that a Leupold 6-20x40mm with 1/2" dot would be a suitable scope. I'd appreciate your comments. Thanks, Tom

Tom, you won't go wrong with either caliber. The Tikka is an excellent choice. I just bought a T3 Forest in 6.5 X 55 and it is a tack driver. Your choice for a scope is perfect for a beginner also.

Al Foust

Thanks Al

About the only difference in all the 6.5s is the amount of powder you need to make it work well. Drive a 107 or 123 at about 2600fps for the close 3 animals and a 140 or 142 at about 2650fps and the rams go down. There is a noticeable difference in recoil between the 107 and 142.

If you are going to shoot F class you might want to look at the 123 at about 2900fps.

Is there any "best" place, who has the lowest price on Tikka T3 Hunter or Forest models? Thanks again, Tom

I bought mine from a local dealer because till 10-31 Beretta has a promotion where you get $150 credit towards items in their online store. I got extra magazines.
Al Foust

A Tikka is a great choice of a rifle, I have two Sporter for different disciplines and they are accurate!

Check buds gun shop for good prices.

I bought my Tikka T3 6.5 X 55 SS Blk Syn from Bud's Gun Shop online in 2010 for what was a steal at $524. I don't know what they are going for now.
Here's some loads I've had good luck with using Hodgdon 4831 SC
123 Sierra 1727 HPBT 44.0 gr chk /pig / tky (bullet has to jump about 1/8 inch)
140 Sierra 1740 HPBT 42.0 gr ram (you can seat the bullet to touch the lands)
ppkny

I have always thought a good dangerous game caliber would be a good choice like. .375 H&H. I guess the recoil would be too punishing on the shooter.
It would certainly knock over the Rams.

I think maybe the only problem with the 375HH would be making sure you have enough elevation in your scope for rams. I'm asuming you'd want to load 300gr bullets for rams so based on shooting a 260gr bullets at chickens, pigs, turkeys that you'd need to go up a few revolutions on the scope as you'll have 64+ inches of drop from a 200 meter zero.

All joking aside. 375HH is an awesome round as you can reload it three ways till Tuesday (some of which are even rather easy on the shoulder). The only problem is that it is a magnum thus not legal for our game.

Thanks for giving me the idea to look up the numbers on this though!

So what did this years national Champion shoot in Big Bore silhouette...what caliber ?

Glen, she used one rifle in 6mm x 47 to win both titles. It's just the 6.5 x 47 Lapua necked down to .243 dia. I do not know what bullets were used but bear in mind her scores tied others and were won in shoot offs. She lost (rang) about 17 rams and still whooped up on the competition. According to my calculator that's about a 28% ram loss .

Good thing they don't shoot-off at rams. The turkeys are easy to tip over if you can hit them.

Yeah Jerry, turkeys are easy..Cough cough cough...Yep.

Saw a T3 Forester in 7/08 new for $750 on Pennswoods.